Wayne Tower, March 2018, Flashback
Laurel entered Wayne Enterprises, she couldn't believe the state this place was in. She knew it was a long shot that he was still here and still operating in the same place as last time but she had to be sure. Laurel found his office, it brought back memories for her; mostly the good. She noticed the office had been used recently, someone was here but was it, Bruce Wayne? Looking at his desk, Laurel then heard the click of a gun's safety being turned off.
"Don't move!" A feminine voice ordered, Laurel lifted up her right sleeve on her denim jacket and turned off the power dampener that was on her wrist before slowing turning around.
"Well, your not Bruce Wayne," Laurel said to the stranger who despite her very beautiful face had hair and a punk/gothic style that reminded her of Sara's friend, Sin.
"No, I'm his cousin and your trespassing on his property which is now legally mine," Kate said still pointing her pistol on Laurel.
"His cousin, huh? Laurel wondered. "Look where is he, I need to talk to him," Laurel explained.
"Don't you read the news? Bruce left Gotham, I haven't seen him in almost 3 years and, even if I did I wouldn't tell a stranger like you." Kate explained.
"I'm not a stranger to him, okay," Laurel said.
"What did you use to date?" Kate asked.
"No, I mean ... sorta, we slept together a few dozen times but it was mostly a working relationship." Laurel reluctantly told her as Kate looked slightly amused. "I also know who he really is." She stated.
"Look I'm sure it was love at first sight for you but clearly Bruce didn't feel the same way." Kate snarked but was slightly worried by Laurel's choice of words.
"No, I mean I "know" who he really is," Laurel said, eventually, she put up her hands and with both of her index fingers put them next to her head, a signal that Kate took that this woman knew Bruce's secret, that Bruce Wayne is Batman. But she couldn't let this woman on.
"Doesn't mean anything to me, lady," Kate said.
"Okay, this is getting annoying," Laurel said, as she walked over to the Grandfather Clock in the middle of the bookcase. Kate fired twice aiming for the woman's arm, but much to her surprise and shock the woman simply tilted her torso as she moved to dodge the gunfire.
"You know, I'm glad you were aiming around my shoulder because I would have been very offended if you aimed at my head!" Laurel annoyingly stated.
"You're ... you're a metahuman, aren't you?" Kate asked.
"Perceptive." Laurel sarcastically stated. She then went for the Grandfather clock and pulled the lever inside it opening the secret elevator and entered it.
"You coming?" Laurel asked. Kate then walked towards the elevator and stood next to her, knowing that whatever training she has had it wouldn't be able to stop a metahuman; at least not without more information.
"So, what's your name?" Laurel asked.
"Kate, you?" Kate answered and asked.
"Laurel," She replied as the elevator door closed and they went down.
The Batcave, Present
Laurel was dressed in black shorts and a navy blue sports bra, she went to go put on jeans and a shirt; however, Kate was being even more persistent about her decisions as of late. "Laurel, I think it's time you told them," Kate said.
"Tell them what exactly, Kate?" Laurel asked.
"Oh, I don't know, how about I'm alive for starters," Kate said.
"If I wanted them to know that I'm alive I would have told them by now don't you think. Besides, I told you the best way to protect them from what we're up against is by staying dead and that hasn't changed." Laurel explained
"Okay, maybe that was true when everyone only thought Oliver was the Green Arrow, but now they know for certain. Plus, if he and that CSI nerd are as good as you told me, what you've been trying to protect them from is going to come after them right now!" Kate angrily explained. "Besides, we both know the real reason you don't want to see them isn't because of what we're up against, it's because of what happened to you ... because of what you did." She solemnly stated.
"Kate ... don't." Laurel said starting to tear up.
Kate stood in silence there for a moment, while she empathized with her friend she also knew she needed her to put her personal feelings aside for the sake of the mission. "Well, when you get your head out your ass let me know. Oh, by the way, Oliver got a call from a Sara; what are the odds that it's your sister." She said, walking away from her friend. Laurel stunned by Kate's words, thought to herself about her sister and knew what she had to do; even if she dreaded it her very core.
Undisclosed Safe House, Present
Barry and Oliver arrived at the safe house with John, Dinah, Sara, Ava, Cisco, Caitlin, Sherloque, and Ralph all joining them.
"What do we have?" Oliver asked.
"We know that Laurel ... whoever this is has been in Gotham for a couple of months now. But what's more interesting is the doctor that was in charge of the bodies we saw in Cisco's vibe, had them destroyed, no records and no alerting their families." Sara stated.
"So let's talk to this doctor," Barry said.
"Look, we need to keep a lower profile in Gotham now that cops are aware that the Green Arrow's in town," Oliver said.
"How, did you two get busted by the way?" Ralph asked.
"And, how did you get out?" Cisco asked.
"Not important, Sara, do you have any ski-masks," Oliver asked.
"Got'em ready." Sara threw Oliver the masks.
"Barry, I need you to get the doctor." Oliver requested.
"Why, what are you gonna do?" Barry asked.
"Something that you and I have a differing opinion about," Oliver said, as Barry looked worried.
The Batcave, Present
Kate was on her computer, looking at multiple screens searching for Laurel's friends; wherever they were, they were well hidden. But with her skills and resources, they wouldn't stay hidden for long. Kate turned her head briefly as she heard Laurel's footsteps.
"So I never thanked you for bailing Barry and Oliver for me, thanks," Laurel said standing behind Kate's work desk.
"Thank me by taking my advice, about getting your head in the game." Kate shot back which annoyed Laurel but she got over it.
"It's in the game. Do we know where Barry and Oliver are? Laurel asked taking a closer look at the computer screens.
"Already done, been tracking them since they left the building but I lose them right about her," Kate said, pointing a certain section at the computer screen. "It's kind of a blind spot area, no surveillance camera's for about a mile." She explained.
"Maybe the drone could help?" Laurel asked.
"Already on it, be there in few more minutes. In the meantime, I've been asking around trying to see if anyone's asking questions they shouldn't. Do these two look familiar?" Kate asked and Laurel looked at the screen it was Cisco and Caitlin, Cisco that's how they found me; Laurel thought.
"That's Cisco Ramon and Dr. Caitlin Snow from S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco's probably the one that found me," Laurel explained.
"How would he do that, you're pretty well hidden? Kate curiously asked.
"Trust me when I say, Cisco has "talents" you can't prepare for. I'm actually surprised this hasn't happened sooner." Laurel said. "Who were they looking at?" She asked.
"Dr. Scott Snyder, the medical examiner we've been looking into the last two weeks," Kate said reluctantly and Laurel's eyes looked frightened.
"We need to find them now!" Laurel yelled.
Batcave, Flashback
Laurel exited the elevator and arrived at the Batcave with Kate, the set up was slightly different than she remembered but still impressive when Bruce brought her down here once or twice.
"Why do you think Bruce is still here? Kate asked.
"Heard stories that the Bat came back to Gotham but not Bruce Wayne, figured Bruce was trying to lay low this time," Laurel answered.
"Well, you're wrong about the Bat coming back to Gotham, at least the old one," Kate said with a smirk.
"What does that mean?" Laurel asked in confusion. Kate walked past her towards the edge of the cave, she stood there for a moment and suddenly the lights turned on. Laurel look at what she was standing next to, the suit was similar to Bruce's but the emblem was slightly different and red and so was the mask as would show more of the face than before and attached to it was a wig of long bright red hair, but most of all the suit wasn't designed for a man and Laurel understood as Kate turned around to look at her. "So Batman isn't in Gotham but "Batgirl" is," She stated.
"I prefer Batwoman, thank you very much," Kate said slightly annoyed which Laurel noticed and chuckled a little.
"So, what brings the Black Canary to Gotham City?" Kate asked and Laurel moved back slightly.
"How did you ..." Laurel said as she was interrupted.
"Well if it wasn't your name, my office has a private security camera in it that only I have access too," Kate said as she walked over to Laurel showing her office camera that was linked to her phone, Laurel realized Kate was learning everything about her from the moment she walked into her office. "Also, one of Bruce's old employees set a pretty sweet facial recognition software, that checks for anyone including the deceased. So, right now I'm kinda torn about which question to ask first, like between how the hell are you still alive and what do you want with my cousin?" She asked as Laurel fell silent.
Parking Lot in Gotham City
Dr. Snyder was walking to his car after a long night's work pulling out his keys he accidentally dropped them, as he reached down for his keys suddenly he found himself in another location. It was very old and empty with a good amount of dust in some places, he also noticed a bunch of weapons on a stand; knives, swords, a spear, and a few he couldn't quite name. Snyder was bound to a chair, couldn't move his feet or his hands. Suddenly, Snyder heard a sound he couldn't quite place and then suddenly he felt something fly quickly by him and then looked at a wall; an arrow was in it. After the shot, a man in a black ski-mask came from behind him holding a bow, then took an arrow and pulled it back with his bow aiming right at Snyder.
"Dr. Scott Snyder, I would like your medical opinion on something." The man in the mask said as Snyder looked frightened.
Author's Notes - Yes, Laurel hooked up with Bruce Wayne in this story; Batman and Black Canary have been romantically linked several times in DC comics so it is not a complete leap. In later chapters, you'll find when and how they hooked up.
Yes, Laurel is a metahuman, however, she will not have the same powers as her comic book counterpart. I figured with her doppelganger and Dinah Drake, having Sonic Screams she would need something different than what they have; although the powers that she will have will fit her character though.
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